The match, which lasted just over an hour, saw the world No. 3 Indians eventually go down 21-10, 17-21, 13-21.
A Game of Two Halves
Satwik and Chirag entered the court with clinical precision, looking to repeat their group-stage victory over the Chinese pair. They raced to a 21-10 win in the opening game, stifling Liang and Wang with aggressive smashes and superior net play.
However, the momentum shifted in the second game. The Chinese duo adjusted their tactics, utilizing flick serves and tighter net control to keep the Indians off-balance. After a neck-and-neck battle to 15-all, Liang and Wang pulled away to take the game 21-17, forcing a decider.
The final game proved to be a one-sided affair. Exhaustion and a flurry of unforced errors from the Indian side allowed the Chinese pair to build an early 11-2 lead. While Satwik and Chirag attempted a late resurgence, the deficit was too large to overcome, ending their run in the season finale.
Historic Achievement for Indian Badminton
Despite the semifinal exit, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have etched their names in the history books:
• First Indian Men’s Doubles Pair to ever qualify for the knockout stages of the BWF World Tour Finals.
• Second-ever Medal for India: They join PV Sindhu (Gold in 2018) as the only Indian shuttlers to reach the podium at this prestigious season-ending event.
• Elite Consistency: The pair ends 2025 having reached two finals and six semifinals across the BWF World Tour.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The "Brothers of Destruction," as they are affectionately known, will now take a short break before gearing up for the 2026 season. With the Malaysia Open and the India Open scheduled for January, the duo remains the primary hope for Indian badminton on the global stage.
"We played a great first game, but we lost our rhythm in the third," Chirag Shetty said post-match. "Getting a medal here is special, but we wanted more. We will take the lessons into next year."